SURVEY OF SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES IN RIO-CUARTO

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are acquired mainly through sexual intercourse, being one of the most frequent groups of infectious dise ases worldwide and consequently an important public health problem. Th e aim of this paper was to determine the current state of STD and to c ompare different diagnostic methods in the population studied. A total of 1060 samples from vaginal flows, endocervical material and urethra l discharge were studied during 3 years. Of the total samples, 583 wer e positive, 493 in women and 90 in men. Microorganisms found in women were: Gardnerella vaginalis (39.3%), Candida albicans (21.1%), Trichom onas vaginalis (17.3%), Candida trachomatis (11.3%), Neisseria gonorrh oeae (3.2%). Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urelyticum (6.5%) and T reponema pallidum (1.4%), the associations found were, Gardnerella vag inalis with Trichomonas vaginalis 5.5%; Gardnerella vaginalis with Can dida albicans 4.9%; Trichomonas vaginalis with Neisseria gonorrhoeae ( 2.2%) and Gardnerella vaginalis with Chlamydia trachomatis (1.9%). In men, gonococcal urethritis (UG) represented 37.7% non UG 55.6% and Tre ponema pallidum 6.7%. These results indicate a decrease in sifilis and in UG when compared to previous studies showing that gonococcal cervi citis had also decreased. We found an important increase in the preval ence of urethritis and non gonococcal cervicitis in agreement with wor ld statistics which consider these diseases as the most common venerea l ones. It is necessary to increase the search for Chlamydia trachomat is in pregnant women due to vertical transmission. it should be noted that, in spite of certain fluctuations, the incidence of the STD in ou r area is still unacceptably high.